Latvian Olympic Committee President Aldons Vrublevskis trying his hand at "Iron Hoops"
(BEIJING, November 7) -- With 276 days to go until the start of the Beijing Olympics, Latvian Olympic Committee President Aldons Vrublevskis and his entourage visited the Bejing Hongzhi Middle School to personally experience the warm atmosphere of the "People's Olympics."
Beijing Honzhi Middle School Vice-Principal Qu Yanping opened the welcoming ceremony. The principal of the school, Guo Hong, used a multimedia presentation to introduce Honzhi Middle School to the Latvian visitors. Activities under the two countries' "Heart to Heart" theme were also launched to complete the colorful, interesting experience. The school promised that at the start of the Olympic Games, Beijing Hongzhi Middle School representatives would cheer on Latvian athletes to wish them good luck.
Latvian guests admire students' hand-made Chinese knots
Mr. Vrublevski gave a warm speech, stressing that this trip to Beijing was mainly to inspect the preparations made for the Beijing Olympics, in addition to checking out the sport grounds and the competition environment. Visiting Hongzhi Middle School was an important stop on his trip. After the introduction made this morning by the school, he was very pleased and inspired, and is quite confident in the success of the 2008 Olympic Games. He looks forward to working with the Middle School to increase and strengthen cooperation between the two nations. Vrublevski extended a warm invitation to the schools students and teachers to pay a visit to Latvia in March of the next year to continue "Heart to Heart" activities with affiliated schools.
Latvian guest learning how to braid a bracelet
At the forum, representatives of both sides presented gifts. Hongzhi Middle School gave Mr. Vrublevski a painting entitled "Orchid Garden," a nationally recognized picture representing friendship, which was personally made by students of the school. Among other gifts, they also presented him with a student-made photo album, red Chinese lanterns, and bamboo scrolls, which symbolize luck and happiness. In return, the Latvian bestowed the school with numerous presents, including a banner resembling the Latvian Olympic Flag, Olympic annals, and a painting that represents friendship, titled "Window."
Latvian Olympic Committee President Aldons Vrublevskis painting with school students
The Latvian company wholeheartedly took part in Hongzhi Middle School's "Cultural Olympics" activities. The Middle School students advocate a slogan of the "Six Most," which refers to "a most civilized language, treating people with the utmost respect, respecting great discipline, living the most frugal life, having the strongest will, studying the hardest." The sentiment here is that the Hongzhi School spirit and the spirit of the Olympic Games are thoroughly integrated, and they will continue to develop together. In the multimedia classroom, Vrublevski and a few Latvian guests were introduced to the art of calligraphy. Together with the students, brushstroke by brushstroke, they wrote the words "Chinese calligraphy" on one banner, and completed another beautiful one with the words "long lasting friendship." After trying their hands at calligraphy, they took hold of some scissors to try their hands at "Chinese paper-cutting." Then, side by side with Hongzhi students, the Latvian guests picked up red ribbons and with the guidance of Chinese teachers, attempted to create "Chinese knots" and "Olympic Good Luck Dolls" (Fuwa). The guests proudly displayed their homemade souvenirs to take pictures with Hongzhi School students.
On the playground, the President and his group were presented with "Chinese Kungfu," a brilliant martial arts performance by Hongzhi Middle School student Li Shang. They also played "iron hoops" and watched a basketball game. In this lively, enthusiastic school campus, Latvian guests and Hongzhi Middle School teachers and students spent a wonderful afternoon together, participating in the school's many activities.
